Housing Ministry, NIWA to Harmonise Shoreline Development Licensing — Joint Committee Set Up

Abuja, 30 April 2025 – The Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (FMHUD) and the Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) have agreed to strengthen collaboration and establish a unified standard procedure for licensing developments on the Lagos shoreline.

This decision was reached at a high-level meeting held at the Ministry’s Headquarters in Mabushi, Abuja, between the leadership of both institutions, led by the Honourable Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, and the Managing Director of NIWA, Mr. Bola Oyebamiji.

In his remarks, the Honourable Minister emphasized the urgent need for both institutions to work together as “one government” to eliminate regulatory conflicts, avoid duplication of mandates, and ensure orderly, sustainable urban development—especially in critical areas such as the Lagos shoreline.

“Our operations intersect and are connected,” the Minister noted. “We must act together to bring order by ensuring that our actions follow a clear regulatory framework that respects both the law and our respective institutional mandates.”

To this end, both parties agreed to set up a joint technical committee to define standard procedures and streamline the process for licensing shoreline developments in Lagos. The committee will comprise representatives from FMHUD, NIWA, and other relevant stakeholders. Its terms of reference will include clarifying roles, eliminating overlaps, enabling data sharing, and recommending sustainable, enforceable guidelines for shoreline development.

During the meeting, Arc. Dangiwa reiterated the distinct mandates of each stakeholder involved: the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development as the administrator of land titles on federal shorelines and national urban policy custodian; NIWA as the regulator of inland waterways infrastructure; and the Lagos State Government as the authority on physical planning and development control within its constitutional jurisdiction.

“Our Ministry, the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, is charged with the issuance and administration of land titles on federal shorelines in accordance with the Land (Title Vesting, etc.) Act of 1975, and the broader framework of the Land Use Act. We are also responsible for shaping national urban development policies that promote sustainable, inclusive, and orderly growth. The Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), under the NIWA Act of 2004, is entrusted with the responsibility of regulating inland waterways—including dredging, ferry services, and permits for water-based infrastructure—on declared federal waterways such as the Lagos Lagoon. The Lagos State Government, empowered by the 1999 Constitution and its own planning laws, is responsible for overseeing physical development, building permits, and urban planning within its jurisdiction, including shoreline areas not under direct federal control”, Arc. Dangiwa.

In his own remarks, the Managing Director of NIWA, Mr. Bola Oyebamiji, commended the Honourable Minister for his leadership and proactive engagement, describing the meeting as “a significant step toward resolving longstanding institutional overlaps.”

He added, “NIWA is committed to working with the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development and other stakeholders to ensure that shoreline developments, especially in Lagos, are carried out in a safe, lawful, and environmentally responsible manner. We welcome the creation of this joint committee and look forward to developing a seamless, coordinated framework for the benefit of the Nigerian people.”

The meeting marks a continuation of earlier engagements between both institutions and signals a renewed commitment to inter-agency cooperation in the interest of sustainable urban development and the delivery of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.